Course overview

At Keele, studying a combined honours degree will include some modules from both of the single honours degrees. In this case, your programme will be made up of a combination of modules from both Physical Geography and Politics.

Key facts

Course content

For the Physical Geography element of this course, you will discover new ways to understand and appreciate the natural world as you explore the rapidly evolving science behind Earth’s changing landscapes and environments.

We take an interdisciplinary perspective that will allow you to embed influences from fields such as geology, environmental science and life sciences into your studies. With our global approach you will discover landscapes and points of view that transcend traditional boundaries. You will learn to collect and interpret evidence in the field and in the laboratory, acquiring skills in surveying, GIS and a range of physical and chemical analytical techniques. You will have the chance to apply your new skills on field courses in the UK and overseas. Geography graduates are highly employable.

Politics is of vital importance to all of us in our daily lives. It concerns fundamental choices about the ways in which societies are organised and the way we are governed. Politics is not just the concern of politicians. It is about big issues such as the environment and human rights. Political engagement can change lives and encourage changes in government in the UK and elsewhere.

Politics at Keele seeks to understand society and the events and forces which shape it, engaging with questions of power, justice, conflict, legitimacy, accountability, and governance. You will explore why citizens are increasingly disillusioned with politics; what a democracy is; when and how it’s legitimate to protest; and the effects of different models of government. You can tailor your studies to your interests, whether theoretical, historical or oriented to specific issues. Politics at Keele is informed by our research expertise in environmental politics, security studies, European and American politics.

Course structure

Our degree courses are organised into modules. Each module is usually a self-contained unit of study and each is usually assessed separately with the award of credits on the basis of 1 credit = 10 hours of student effort. An outline of the structure of the programme is provided in the tables below.

There are three types of module delivered as part of this programme. They are:

Compulsory modules: a module that you are required to study on this course;

Optional modules: these allow you some limited choice of what to study from a list of modules;

Elective modules: a free choice of modules that count towards the overall credit requirement but not the number of subject-related credits.

A summary of the total credit requirements per year is as follows, with a minimum of 90 subject credits (compulsory plus optional) required for each year across both of your Principal Subjects. This document has information about Physical Geography modules only; please also see the document for your other subject. For Physical Geography Combined Honours:

Year

Compulsory

Optional

Electives

Min

Max

Min

Max

1

60

0

0

0

0

2

60

0

0

0

0

3*

0

45

60

0

15

* in year 3 there is the option to choose to specialise in one of your subjects, taking a minimum of 90 credits in this subject rather than taking modules from both subjects

Year 1 (Level 4)

For Politicsa minimum of 3 modules are to be taken

Compulsory modules

Credits

Optional modules

Credits

Fundamentals of Physical Geography

15

None

Geographical Skills

15

The Practice of Physical Geography

15

People and the Environment

15

Year 2 (Level 5)

For Politicsa minimum of 3 modules are to be taken

Compulsory modules

Credits

Optional modules

Credits

Dynamic Geographies

15

None

Practical Physical Geography

15

Regional Landsystems

15

Geographical Research Training

15

Year 3 (Level 6)

For Politicsa minimum of 3 modules are to be taken

Students take either 60 credits from the options below, or 45 credits from this list plus 15 credits from an elective outside this list. Students may take no more than one of the ISPs on this list, and do not need to take a Geography Independent Study Project (ISP) as long as there is an ISP included within their overall combined honours module diet.

Compulsory modules

Credits

Optional modules

Credits

None

Double Dissertation ISP

30

Single Dissertation ISP

15

Glaciers and Glacial Geomorphology

15

Inspirational Landscapes

15

Global Environmental Change

15

Water Resources

15

Applied GIS

15

Coastal Environments

15

Environment and Sustainability Case Study

15

Natural Hazards

15

Dissertation module

30

Russia and Europe

15

The Extreme Right in Western Europe

15

The Left in Modern Politics

15

Environmental Politics in the USA

15

Modern Russia

15

The Northern Dimension

15

Proliferation

15

Environmentalism, Environmental

Movements and Protest

15

Britain and war since 1945: War, Cold War

And Society

15

The Missing Dimension

15

Politics of Development

15

Israel-Palestine: Key Debates and Issues

15

Policing International Order

15

Gendering Global Politics

15

Understanding Terrorism and Counter-

terrorism

15

The U.S. Presidency

15

Urban Politics

15

If you choose to specialise in Physical Geography in your final year you will take either 120 credits from the list below, or 105 credits from this list plus 15 credits from an elective outside this list. Students must take one of the two Dissertation ISP options below.

Compulsory modules

Credits

Optional modules

Credits

None

Double Dissertation ISP

30

Single Dissertation ISP

15

Glaciers and Glacial Geomorphology

15

Global Environmental Change

15

Water Resources

15

Natural Hazards

15

Inspirational Landscapes

15

Applied GIS*

15

Coastal Environments

15

Trees in their Environment*

15

Contemporary Topics in Environmental Science

15

Environment & Sustainability Case Study

15

If you choose to specialise in Politics in your final year you will study the following modules:

Next Steps

Entry requirements

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom, European Union and International students.

A Level requirements

A Level requirement BBB/ABC

A level Geography or related subject at grade B or above.

If related subject includes A level Biology, Chemistry or Physics (England), a pass in Science Practical will be required.**

International Baccalaureate

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction. You must also have taken sufficient Geography credits, please contact us for advice.

Please note

* Reformed GCSE grades for England are stated in brackets** Science practical only required from applicants taking reformed A level Biology, Chemistry or Physics in England*** If applicant has not had opportunity to sit AS level in England, please contact the Admissions team

Next Steps

Fees and funding

Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.

Next Steps

Career prospects

Keele enjoys high rates of graduate employment, where in 2016, were recognised nationally as 1st for employability in the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey.

Your degree from Keele will equip you for future employment or advanced study, and will establish a lifelong appreciation of the world around you. Your skills could take you into directly related careers such as environmental planning or consultancy, or you could apply them in industries such as energy, agriculture, meteorology or construction. Your problem-solving skills and global, interdisciplinary approach will be of value in a huge range of careers. For the Politics element of the course, you'll learn by addressing current issues and debates of political concern, ensuring the relevance of your learning to modern life.

You might work as a politician’s assistant, a researcher for an MP or think-tank, or a public-affairs consultant. You could work in the civil service, in local government, or for a campaigning or lobbying group. A wide range of other employers also see a politics degree as evidence of your ability to think critically, take a balanced approach, make reasoned arguments and collaborate with colleagues, so many graduates go into careers like journalism or management.